Assessing the Role of Three Eddy Types in Restratifying the Labrador Sea after Deep Convection

Restratification after deep convection, a key factor in determining the temporal variability of dense water formation in the Labrador Sea, is governed by lateral buoyancy fluxes. The role of three different eddy types in this process is assessed using an idealized model to simulate the restratification season. For a realistic shape of the convection area, it is shown that in the model warm core Irminger Rings, shed from the boundary current along the west coast of Greenland, compensate 45% of the heat content deficit of the convection area with respect to the background stratification within six months. The other two eddy types, convective eddies and boundary current eddies, are together responsible for replenishing 30% of the heat content anomaly. Irminger Rings are thus the dominant contributors to restratification in this area. This conclusion holds for a wide range of convection area parameters, and is also supported by theoretical estimates.